This is an original encaustic painting on panel, presented in a black float frame, wired and ready for hanging (see below for more information on encaustic).

This piece is part of a larger series of encaustic nature prints. Encaustic is a wax-based paint, made up of filtered beeswax, pigment, and natural tree resin. To create an encaustic nature print, leaves and other botanicals are pressed directly into the surface while the wax is still warm, leaving a surprisingly detailed impression. Layers of paint are built up, and the delicate veins and textures are highlighted with oil paint, creating a record of each unique plant.

Here, prints of oak leaves on paper embedded in encaustic make up the background, surrounded by soft swirls of encaustic paint in autumnal tones. Flecks of mica also adorn the surface. The focal point is a single sage leaf captured in encaustic, edged with copper and attached to the painting with copper wire.

This particular piece was made using oak leaves collected in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, then inked and printed in my home studio. The single sage leaf was plucked from a plant growing right outside my front door in Asheville, North Carolina, USA.

Encaustic is an ancient medium, and archeologists have found encaustic artwork on wood and linen that's over 2000 years old, and in good condition. The tree resin raises the melting point of the wax, as well as making the final surface harder, shinier, and more durable. While some collectors new to encaustic have concerns regarding its fragility, the medium is actually quite strong and archival.  Encaustic, like any fine art, is best displayed out of direct sunlight and in a room that is between 50 and 100 degrees Farenheit (10 to 38 degrees Celsius).

Instructions for care and cleaning are included with the purchase of any original painting.